Device for controlling the water ballast in submergible vessels.



C. SACERDOTI. DEViCE FOR CONTROLLING THE WATER BALLAST IN SUBMERGIBLE VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1915.

Patented Jim-25, 1916.

INvENru/( THE coumum PLANOGRAPH c0., WASHINGTON, D. c

Arron n.

C. SACEHDOTI. Ll'NG THE WATER BALLAST IN SUBMERGIBLE VESS APPLICATION FILED MAY 22, 1915.

ELS.

DEVICE FOR CONTROL Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEE'T 2.

M 3 I RAM A 5 E 6% w B WITNESS ATTORNEY.

THE COLUMBIA PLAPjOGRARH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

tann n saw CESAR/E SACEIRDOTI, OF GENOA,

ITALY, ASSIGNOR T0 sooIE'rA ANONIIVIA ITALIANA GIO. ANSALDO & 0., OF GENOA, ITALY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 22, 1915. Serial No. 29,941.

To all to]: one it may concern:

Be it known that I, CnsARn SAoERDoTI, a subject of the King of Italy, residing at Genoa, Italy, (whose post-otiice address is Via Corsica No. 10, Genoa, Italy,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Controlling the lVater Ballast in Submergible Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a device comprising tubings and valves for controlling the water ballast required for operating submergible vessels.

Submergible vessels are usually provided in correspondence with the water ballast compartments with an outside and an inner plating defining the double bottom divided into compartments by a longitudinal keelson and transverse bulkheads and floors.

My improved device comprises a single flooding and discharge tube controlled by valves the seats of which are formed in a valve case fitted in the interior of the vessel and provided with a valve of connection with the sea. and an aperture of communication with the suction part of a pump.

In order that my said invention maybe better understood I have illustrated same by way of example in the annexed drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a section across the axis of the vessel showing the position occupied by the tubings and valves; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view; Fig. 4 shows the position occupied by the valve controlling levers in normal emersion con- Fig. 5 shows the position occupied by the completely unscrewed rod when the vessel is ready for submersion; Fig. 6 is a view of the lever in the open positicn of valves, and Fig. 7 shows the lever in the open position where raising of val 'e is to be effected by the usual screw controlling device.

In the said drawings A is the outer and B the inner plating defining the double bo tom divided into compartments C C and D D by the longitudinal keelson and the bulkheads F. Each of the com artments has a flooding and exhausting tube G controlled by a valve H the seat of which is formed in a valve case I fitted in the interior of the vessel and provided with a valve L communicating with the sea through tube U, and

dition of the vessel;

prevented from rotation an aperture of communication with the suction part of a pump M.

Each of the elementary valves H as well as the valve L is operated by a rod N on which a nut N is screwed, operated in turn by a lever O for which a sector P with two stop notches Q and R is provided at the two ends of the stroke of the lever. Rod N has on its bottom end a head S capable of raising the valve by a projection T provided on same, such projection being sufficiently long for permitting the rod N a movement equal to the rise of the valve, before the latter is raised. On the top end of rod N a handwheel K is keyed permitting to screw and unscrew the rod with regard to nut N by a suitable guide.

For greater safety on the sea side of the valve L an additional valve V may be provided for preventing the water fcm entering in case of breakage of valve L or the tube on the sea side of the latter. From valve V leads the end tube U communicating with the sea, provided at its end with a grate Z. Valve V in all of the operations hereafter considered may be normally left free and is therefore kept closed by its own weight except in the flooding period during which it is to be kept open. A single lever may control a couple of valves H the one at the right and the other on the left of the longitudinal keelson.

My above described device is operated as follows:

(1) In normal conditions of emersion all of the levers are kept in position of closure in notch R and the rods so turned as to force valves on the corresponding seats (Fig. 4).

(2) When the vessel is to be prepared for submersion the rods N are to be completely unscrewed so that the head S is moved to a l ttle distance from the end of the projection T, Fig. 5. Thereafter the valve L is opened by operating the corresponding lever O and locked in the open position in notch Q. Fig. 6. If the said valve by its dimensions should oppose excessive resistance to opening, between the easing of valve L and the sea a small tube of communication X controlled by small valves Y may be interposed, whereby the pressure on thesaid valve may be balanced before opening same.

(3) lVhen the order of flooding the Patented Jan. 25, 1916. I

double bottoms is given for submergingthe' by compressed vessel, all of the levers O of the secondary valves H are moved to the open position in notch Q, and locked in the same for the whole flooding period.

t) When the the valves H and mediate position,

(5) When in the above described conditions the double bottoms are to be emptied by injecting compressed air into them, the water raises the valves H and L and is discharged olf board-.-

(6) Vhen, on the other hand, the filled double bottoms are tobe emptied bypumping the water off board, valve L is kept closed both by the external pressure and its own weight, while valves H are raised by the depression produced by the pump, and the water is discharged from the double bottoms into the sea. This operation is absolutely sure even if the pump is centrifugal, because it is surely flooded.

The above steps are facilitated by opening by means of the operating levers the valves H and, according to circumstances, also the valve L. This operation, however, is not necessary. 7

(7) When the vessel has returned to the surface of the water, the double bottoms are double bottoms are filled L are restored to the inter- Fig. 5.

empty, the rods N are screwed to locked position and the condition of Fig. 4 is restored.

(8) If for special reasons it is necessary or convenient to only exhaust or flood some of the double bottoms. one proceeds as above described, only restoring to the position of Fig. 4 those valves which correspond to the double bottoms to be controlled.

(9) If owing to very great dimensions of valves H or other reasons their raising by lever 0 should require an excessive force, the order of the opening operations may be correspondingly changed by first moving, after the valve is closed (Fig. 4) lever O to the open position in notch Q, which requires no eflort, and then so turning rod N by the handwheel as to raise the valve by the'usual screw control device,- Fig. 7, and thus again reach the position of Fig. 6.

The principal advantages obtained by the above described valve and tubing arrangement are the following ones: (a) The operating devices of all of the valves for the operation of the double bottoms are concentrated in a single place, namely the control chamber. (72) N 0 operation is needed for the valves of the double bottoms when the vessel is submerged, either when the latter are to be emptied by means of compressed air, or by means of pumps, while by other arrangements it is not possible to have the double bottoms ready at the same time for. emptying air and by pumps. (0) In the normal condition of emersion,each compartment. issecured against. the entrance of Witfilifiififiaiisi .oi .ieLYe$ -(s1 mh:as Y,

. erated.

into compartments L and H), and, consequently, thismeans is preferable and better than having a separate kingston for each compartment. (d) The closing or opening operation of the valves is very rapid. (e) The operation of the right and left valves of each compartment, such as C, C or D D etc., of the double bottom is rendered simultaneous, while, if necessary, only the right or only the left may be op- (f) All of the valves L and H may be dismounted or repaired without going into dock. (g) No exhausting valves are needed which in cther'systems would be arranged within the double bottoms where they are difficult to maintain and repair; (it) Asperities of the keel due to protecting grates for the flooding kingstons if the latter by their excessive weight and volume should protrude, are avoided.

claim 1. Means for controlling the water ballast for operating submergible vessels, comprising a single flooding and exhausting tube controlled by valves and levers, the seats of which are respectively formed in a valve casing fitted in the interior of the vessel and provided with. a valve communieating with the sea, and an aperture communicating with a suction pump, the said vessel being provided with an outside and inner plating defining the double bottom divided into compartments by a longitudinal keelson and transverse bulkheads, in eachof which compartments a flooding anc exhausting tube is placed.

2. In a device for controlling the water ballast in submergible vessels comprising a double bottom in said vessel; means dividing said double bottom into separate compartments hausting tube communicating with said compartments; valves in said'tube and a suction pump communicating with said tube and having an outlet at'the exterior of the vessel. I

3. In a device as described, a double bottom; means for dividing said double bottom a single flooding and outlet tube; separate flooding and outlet connection in said compartments and communicating with said tube, and means for expelling the water ballast from the double bottom. 7

t. In means for controlling the water ballast in submergible vessels comprising a double bottom; means for dividing said double bottom into separate compartments; asi-ngle fiording and exhausting tube having connections with said compartments; valves mounted in said tube; a controlling mechanism for said valves and a suction pump in connection with said. floodingand exhausting tube.

51. .Mew ienwn llieeh mental- .Having now described my invention, I

for

a single flooding and exlast in submergible vessels, comprising a double bottom in said vessel; means for dividing said double bottom into separate compartments; a suction pump; a single flooding and exhausting tube having one end extending to the exterior of the vessel and the other end connected with said suction pump and having connections with said separate compartments; *alves mounted in said flooding and exhausting tube; means for mounting said valves in the interior of the boat and a mechanism for controlling said valves.

6. In a submergible vessel, a double bottom; means for dividing said double bottom into separate compartments; a control chamber in said vessel; a single flooding and exhausting tube; flooding and exhausting means in each compartment connected with said tube; valves in said tube; a mechanism for controlling the said valves and Copies of this patent mav be obtained for five cents each, by

vers connected to the said controlling rods.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CESARE SACERDOTI.

Witnesses:

LUIGI BENDAMLE, J. FRANCESCO GARBINI.

addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

